The Blade's Road Warrior

The Blade s Road Warrior tells readers where the biggest driving headaches will be throughout the construction season. He will tell you the spots to avoid and the detours to take.

The recent crashes on U.S. 24, especially the one last Friday west of Napoleon, remind the Road Warrior of a strong bit of advice he took to heart in driver education more than two decades ago: Keep your front wheels straight while waiting to make a left turn.

While this does not appear to have been the case in the crash on U.S. 24 at Henry County Road 17D, the Road Warrior has reported on way too many accidents in which a stopped vehicle was struck from behind and, because its front wheels were steered toward the left to anticipate starting up in a turn, that stopped vehicle was propelled into on-coming traffic s path.

Getting struck from behind can cause serious harm all by itself, of course, but the odds of severe injury or death worsen substantially if opposing traffic becomes involved.

So don t turn that steering wheel until you re ready to turn.

1. I-280: The freeway is closed in both directions within the Front Street interchange for construction of the Veterans Glass City Skyway overhead. Local access is maintained both north and south of Front, while through traffic is detoured via State Rt. 795 and I-75.

A 35-mph speed limit remains in effect through the bridge construction area in both directions. The northbound exit and southbound entrance at Greenbelt Parkway remain closed, as do Ash and Huron streets at I-280.

2. U.S. 20/23, State Rt. 420: Interchange construction closes one of two lanes in each direction on Route 420 south of Truman Road. Pemberville Road is closed at U.S. 20/23 for overpass construction. Use Bradner or Lemoyne roads instead.

5. I-75: Bridge deck repairs limit traffic to two lanes each way between the Ohio-Michigan border and Exit 5 near Erie, Mich., and also between LaPlaisance Road and Dixie Highway near Monroe. Ramps are closed at Exits 13 and 14, with detours posted. Delays are possible during peak travel times.

6. Byrne Road: Bridge reconstruction and pavement work restrict traffic to one lane in each direction between Hill Avenue and Glanzman Road. Use Detroit Avenue instead.

7. State Rt. 246 (Dorr Street): Resurfacing and repair restrict traffic to one lane each way between Douglas Road/Westwood Avenue and Smead Avenue.

9. Summit Street: Bridge reconstruction restricts traffic to one lane each way at the Ottawa River.

10. Fulton-Lucas Road: Bridge repairs close the road between Airport Highway and Shaffer Road until mid-October. Use Scott Road instead.

11. Monroe Street (State Rt. 51): Widening and repaving require nighttime lane closings between Willis Boulevard and Crary Drive. This includes the Secor Road and Sylvania Avenue intersections. Work hours will be 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., with some scattered daytime closings for utility work.

12. State Rt. 64: Painting restricts traffic on the Waterville Bridge to a single lane, governed by flag zones, daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Completion is scheduled for Aug. 12.

13. State Rt. 582: Pavement reconstruction closes the route between Dunbridge Road and State Rt. 199 until mid-August. A 12-mile detour will use State Rts. 199 and 105 and I-75.

14. State Rt. 199: Culvert replacements south of West Millgrove close the route to through traffic between U.S. 6 and Fostoria starting Monday morning. Detour via U.S. 23 and U.S. 6. Completion is scheduled for Aug. 1.

16. South Avenue: Resurfacing requires daily flag zones between Detroit Avenue and Champion Street through next week. Delays are likely. Use Arlington Avenue or Airport Highway and Western Avenue instead.

U.S. 6/U.S. 20: Traffic is reduced to one lane each way at the western end of the Fremont Bypass, with temporary traffic signals regulating the merge between U.S. 6 and U.S. 20. The eastbound exit and entrance at State Rt. 53 is closed for work associated with Route 53 widening.

State Rt. 2: Rehabilitation of the Edison Bridge over Sandusky Bay closes one westbound lane between 10 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. Friday each week through the summer. Both eastbound lanes are open.

In Ottawa County, intersection work requires flag zones at Benton-Carroll Road during daytime hours, and Benton-Carroll is closed at Route 2 with a local detour posted.

State Rt. 4: Railroad crossing work closes the route north of Attica, Ohio, for seven days starting Monday morning. A posted detour will use U.S. 224 and State Rts. 67 and 162.

State Rt. 108: Replacement of the Perry Street Bridge in Napoleon requires a six-mile detour, via U.S. 6 and State Rt. 110, until the new bridge opens in October.

Contact the Road Warrior at:roadwarrior@theblade.comor 419-724-6094.

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